The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-18
md Miss Kollock. who came unbidden and

| uuhubuOlI1Ou VI uudlueu Ny any OcucIdl
or State Convention. Hasn't it yielded 9
thousand fold? Could the General Con-
ventiop, could our friends who are anx-
ious to aid missions, find quicker or
larger return, than to aid such move
ments as this in different parts of our
growing country? Help at the right
time would put them on an equal foot
ing with the other churches OF the town
and not leave them to drag along for
years at poor dying rate. One thou
sand dollars invested by the General
Convention in the new church here
would be an inspiration to this hard
working parish, and insure return with
in year of handsome church property
worth $4,000, free of debt, decided to the
General Convention and dedicated to the
work of Universalism, and with it all
vigorous parish, working in the years to
come for the faith we all love.
Many of our best workers here have put
years Of hard work and much money into
the churches they have left in their East
ern homes. And now they have all the
work to do again in this new country. If
any OF our Eastern friends who love the
missionary cause, and who are enjoying
the established churches which others
have helped them to build, can out of
their prosperity lend hand to these new
and struggling movements, in which
there is such good promise and such
quick returns, new and lf-sustaining
churches would spring up to bless and
strengthen the cause.
Another Example.
Encouraged by Br. Deere's counsel,
and aided by Br. TROOPS consecratred
money, went to San Bernardino, hired
hall, advertised myself, held seven SER
vices and the result is, an organized par
isb, differed, new hymn books purchas-
ed, place of worship, free for one year,
$500 subscribed toward the salary of a
pastor, $500 toward church lot, and the
promise from the Lieutenant Governor OF
the State that he will build fine new
church when the lot is secured.
Can the denomination sfford to let
such opportunities slip? Where is
stronger appeal for missionary work?
Would not such results justify the Gen.
eral Convention in adopting an aggres-
sive policy, and going in faith to some of
these open fields to possess the land" ?
The wealthy and strong men of our
church would rally to its support when
they saw such grand results from small
investments. OF course the General
Convention cannot employ men to go
into these new fields, and it is not neces-
sary. But the Convention might author
ize these trusty laymen and ministers who
go to say to the friends in new place,
"The General Convention authorizes me to
come to you, with encouragement and
help, and all that we do by way of preach
ing or other aid, we do in the name OF
our General Convention" If minister
breaches several Sundays in new place
for nothing, let him do it by the authority
of the General Convention. If a layman
sends money to encourage and help the
new movement in another part of the
State, let him be able to say, "The General
Convention offers this, or pledges so
much, If you will do SO MUCH" it would
add all the dignity and power of the
general body to the individual effort,
and in no way ieopardize the interests Of
the Convention. If the preaching and
money put into San Bernardino and other
places in different sections of our country
by outside individual effort, could have
been done in the name OF the General
Convention, it would have been vastly
easier work and would have yielded bet
ter fruits.
My Suggestion
is, therefore, that the General Conven-
top, when it finds an important field for
work, authorizes the nearest State Con-
vention, or some reliable layman or min
lister within reach, in whom it has faith,
to go in its name and as it's representa-
tive, and see what can be done and do it
and report results. In this way minis
ters could and would do more missionary
work In their own localities. The Gen.
eral Convention would be brought nearer
to the people as an active and helpful
power, and our missionary work would
be greatly increased. E. L. CoNGER.